Rockies prospects Jon Gray, Tyler Anderson going on DL is no big deal

Top Rockies prospect Jon Gray is on the seven-day DL as he rests up for Double-A Tulsa’s postseason. (Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post)

In case you missed it (ICYMI in the Twittersphere), word came out last night that right-hander Jon Gray and lefty Tyler Anderson, two of the Rockies’ top prospects at Double-A Tulsa, have been placed on the disabled list.

I checked into the situation and here’s what I found. According to one major league source, Gray is a bit “fatigued” after his first full season in pro baseball, but it’s nothing serious.

Another source close to the Tulsa Drillers explained the moves this way:

“It’s nothing serious. In the minors you can “DL” someone just to open a roster spot. They are on the seven-day DL. Tulsa is simply ‘DL’ing’ Gray and Anderson to bring in two pitchers from High-A Modesto to cover their next starts, so that the Drillers can rest Gray and Anderson for the playoffs that begin in a week.

Anderson, FYI, has been Tulsa’s best pitcher this summer. The 2011 first-round draft pick has been lights out in his last 10 starts, going 3-1 with a 1.11 ERA. He’s struck out 53 and walked just 19. However, Anderson’s innings are still being watched carefully. The seven innings he pitched in his last start were a season high.

For the season, Anderson is 6-4 with a 2.08 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Gray is 10-5 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.